Haseena came out with radiating joy on her face. But stopped seeing Karishma standing there, with an unreadable expression that made her heart skip. For a moment, their eyes locked, the air seemed to thicken around them, with unspoken emotions.
"Krishu?" Haseena called her.
It was like, her calling bring Karishma back to present and a smile plastered on her face, however it didn't reached her eyes.
"Haan?''
"Aap thik hain?" Haseena asked in concerning tone.
"Haan, bilkul...hume kya hoga?" Karishma replied casually," Woh...hume ek jaruri kaam yaad aa gaya, hum chalte hain."
Karishma walked passed to her, leaving her confused behind. Haseena waved her hands questionably.
"Inhe konsa kaam aa gaya achanak?"
.........
"Kiska call tha?" Haseena asked out of curiosity.
They were sitting on a bench near the ground. It was after the evening training session, they decided to spend some time with each other.
"Humare ek dost ka call tha. Bahut dukhi lag raha tha." Anubhav said with sad tone.
"Kyun?"
"Ek hafte pahle uski shadi thi, Prem Vivah tha, parantu ladki ka ek dost tha Jo usse prem karta tha. Aur shadi vale din usne apni dost ko bhadka diya ki humara dost use dhoka de raha hai, kisi aur ladki ke sath. Aur un dono ki shadi toot gayi."
Anubhav completed, Haseena's expression turned somber. Though she didn't utter a word, her eyes seemed to hold empathy for them.
How can anyone do this to their friend, What kind of a friend is he who is not happy in his friend's happiness, and if he somehow broke their marriage, how will she ever able to trust him.
"Haseena ji, aap hume ek vachan dengi?" He said while looking into her eyes, she nodded in response," Yadi aage chalkar aapko koi humare khilaaf bhadkaye ya aapko aisa lage ki hum aapko dhoka de rahe hain, to aap hum par vishwas karengi, aur sabse pahle humse aakar baat karengi."
"Offcourse! Jab rishta joda hai to pure bharose se nibhayenge."
Haseena reassured him, then both turned their head towards the setting sun.
"Haseena ji, aapko nahi lagta ki Karishma ko hum...dono ko sath mein dekhna achha nahi lagta." Anubhav said after a long period of silence.
"Nahi, hume to aisa kuch nahi..." Haseena was going to answer immediately, but something struck in her mind," Ek minute! kahin aap yeh to nahi kah rahe ki Karishma bhi humare sath aisa kuch karegi?" She asked with evident bitterness in her tone.
"Are nahi nahi," he chuckled softly before continuing," Hum to bas itna kah rahe the ki ab humara rishta ho chuka hai. Aur jab jab hum aapse vartalap karne ka prayas karte hain tab woh hume aap ke nikat nahi aane deti." Haseena's expression remained stern even after after his explanation," Haseena ji, hum bas aapko khona nahi chahte." He added, and noticed Haseena's expression turned normal.
"Karishma aisa kuch nahi kar sakti," Haseena said with confidence," Woh bas hume lekar thodi si protective hain. Aur hum unke liye bahut achhe dost hain bas, isse jyada kuch nahi. Aur agar aisa hota to woh hume bata chuki hoti." Haseena completed and walked from there.
.........
Karishma was in the cafeteria, lost in her own world. Amar was saying something but she didn't paid any attention.
